Community

Births

Coleman family grows

Megan and Bryon Coleman, of Kenai, announce the birth of their daughter, Brooklyn Grace Coleman, on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, at 10:16 a.m., at Providence Alaska Medical Center, in Anchorage. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 21 inches. Her grandparents are Joe Moore, Kathy and Ken Roser, and Ken and Vicki Coleman, all of Kenai. Her great-grandparents are Sharon Williams, of Cresswell, Ore,; Gene Moore, of Eugene, Ore,; John and Patricia O'Connell, of Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Gus and Barb Vendetti, of Florence, Colo.

Arthur, Kiffmeyer welcome daughter

Jessie Arthur and Adam Kiffmeyer, of Sterling, announce the birth of their daughter, Ally Addisen Kiffmeyer, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, at 3:03 p.m., at Central Peninsula Hospital, in Soldotna. She weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and measured 19 inches. Ally joins her brother, Kyler, 9. Her grandparents are Neil and Connie Arthur, of Sterling; and Teresa Kiffmeyer, of Soldotna. her great-grandparents are Dee Kiffmeyer; and Nannie Adamson, both of St. Cloud, Minn.; Joan and Ed Johnston, of Ames, Iowa; and Evelyn an Gordon Felper, of Searsboro, Iowa.

News and Notes

Saner named to dean's list

Timothy G. Saner, a 2010 Kenai Central High School graduate, was named to the Fall 2010, Deans List at the University of Alaska Anchorage with a 4.0 GPA. Saner is an engineering major. His parents are Teresa and Stan Saner, and stepmother Shellie Saner, of Kenai.

Kenai teen to spend a year in Kyrgyzstan

On the first day of the 27th Alaska Legislature, Kenai Central High sophomore Josette Renken flew to Juneau to attend the Juneau Rotary luncheon where Rotarians acknowledged her for being selected as the first Alaskan student to travel to Kyrgyzstan under the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

Renken was greeted in Juneau by Sen. Tom Wagoner (R-Kenai). Her parents are Mya and Aaron Renken, of Kenai,

"I'm very proud of Josette and pleased that a Kenai High School student was selected by the team of Youth Exchange officers" Wagoner said.

The 16-year-old will leave the U.S. for Kyrgyzstan in August and spend her junior year attending high school and living with a host family.

To participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program students must submit an application and interview with a team of Youth Exchange officers. "Students who travel abroad under the Rotary Youth Exchange program serve as student ambassadors representing not just Alaska, but the United States as well," said Virginia Stonkus, Juneau Downtown Rotary Youth Exchange Officer.

Writer mini-grants available

The Central Peninsula Writers Group is now calling for submissions for the 14th Annual Writers presentation in March at the Kenai Visitors Center in Kenai. The Central Peninsula Writers Group has been awarded a mini-grant from the Alaska Humanities Forum enabling them to give those who read their entries this year an honorarium of up to $100. The amount will be determined by the number of readers selected from the submissions received. Adult and high school aged writers from the Central Peninsula- Cooper Landing to Ninilchik and Nikiski- are eligible to enter. Entries are due Feb. 12, and must be accompanied by an entry form and three copies of their work.

Complete guidelines and entry forms are available at the Kenai Community Library, the Kenai Visitors Center and online at www.kenailibrary.org, click on the Writer Group link at the left.

Birding workshop on tap

The Kenai Birding Festival Winter Workshop is scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5. This two-day event is suitable for new and experienced birders, and will provide information about bird and wildlife watching on the Kenai peninsula. The event is free and open to the public. Please visit http://kenaibirdfest.com/ for more information and a complete schedule of events or contact Natasha Ala, KWF board of directors at (907) 283-3127 or natasha@visitkenai.com.

'Way Out Women' ready to ride

Time to register for the 2011 "Way Out Women" (WOW) snow machine ride benefiting cancer patients throughout the Kenai Peninsula, scheduled for Feb. 26. The group raises money with this annual ride to benefit local oncology patients and the funds are administered by the Central Peninsula Health Foundation.

Riders can sign up individually or as a team and are asked to gather pledges of $100 or more per person. Corporate sponsorship teams of five riders are also available for a contribution of $1,000 which includes recognition in advertising and at the event.

For more information, contact Kathy Lopeman at 283-7602 or the Central Peninsula Health Foundation at 714-4626. You can print a registration packet from www.cpgh.org. Priority is given to registration received by Feb. 11.